May 20, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS` REFLECTIONS ON THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
"O Christ, having taken upon thy shoulders our nature, which had gone astray, thou didst ascend and bring it unto God the Father."

(Matins canon for the Ascension)

Next week we will observe one of the twelve great Feast Days of our Church: the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, the last day of His physical presence on Earth. We believe that in his resurrected body, Christ lived among the disciples for 40 days but He did not return to His former life. He does not even stay with them, but only appears at various times and places, always miraculously and mysteriously. "He was not always with them now, as He was before the Resurrection,” as St John Chrysostom says.

The Ascension marks the fulfilment of God’s plan, and reveals the full meaning of Christ’s Resurrection, because with Christ, we also ascend. "We who seemed unworthy of the earth, are now raised to heaven," says St John Chrysostom. "We who were unworthy of earthly dominion have been raised to the Kingdom on high, have ascended higher than heaven, have came to occupy the King`s throne, and the same nature from which the angels guarded Paradise, stopped not until it ascended to the throne of the Lord." By His Ascension the Lord opened for us the way to Heaven.

St. Luke tells us that our Lord “led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.” This sight was so amazing, even to the Apostles who had witnessed all manner of strange and miraculous events, that they stood there, transfixed, gazing up after Him, until rebuked by angels: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Thus we understand that The Ascension is also a promise of His Second Coming.

Like the Apostles, we also stand in awe, looking up after our Ascended Lord, and wondering what we should do from then on. However St. John Chrysostom has an answer for us, "If thou art the body of Christ, bear the Cross.”


May 14, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS CONGRATULATES OUR GRADUATES
May 2009

My dear Spiritual Children,

“Grow in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
(2 Peter 3:18)

I wanted to take this opportunity to convey my personal congratulations with paternal love and my hierarchal blessings to all our graduates. As your Hierarch and Spiritual Father, I am full of pride for your accomplishments and I congratulate you on achieving this milestone in your life. I know that your families and your Parish communities are also very proud of you and I share in the pride and the excitement of your achievement. I am confident that all of you will certainly succeed in whatever you undertake because God has given you the gifts and talents necessary for success. Moreover you have learned from your parents and your Parish family the foundation of Christian understanding and Truth as taught by our Holy Orthodox Church.

So I pray that you will enjoy the spiritual riches of God’s Grace and Love always, as you enter a new chapter of your life in Christ! While you continue your life’s journey, may God keep you under His Divine Providence and Protection always!

ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta


May 15, 2009
REQUEST FOR PARISH DIRECTORIES
Reverend Clergy, Presidents and esteemed Parish Council members of the Holy and God-protected Metropolis of Atlanta

“Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2nd Corinthians 6:2

I greet you today with love in the Name of our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with those beautiful words, “Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!” Christ Is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!” While we continue to celebrate and proclaim His glorious Resurrection, I pray our Lord will bless you always, bestowing upon you good health, wisdom, patience and abundant joy!

As you know, we are always striving to enhance and improve communications throughout our Metropolis. To avoid duplications, I am requesting that you send copies of your current Parish directory, in any format, including email addresses, and to send us the updates and corrections at least once a year. If you have the directory in an Excel document, we can import it directly into our database. Our hope is that eventually we will be able to mail copies of Diakonia Magazine and send the Metropolis Messenger to all our Metropolis family. Thank you for your cooperation and support in our effort to further develop our communications ministry in our Metropolis.
          
May the joy of His Resurrection fill your heart, brighten your life with hope and bless all your days with peace! With love in the Risen Lord and wishing you a safe and blessed summer, I remain,

Paternally yours

+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta